Bottle closure



1.. M. MALLICK 2,437,882

BOTTLE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 4, 19 .5

Patented Mar. 16, 1948 NT OFFICE 3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to a bottle closure, and

more particularly to a bottle closure which permits pouring of thecontents of the bottle automatically upon the tilting of the bottle topouring position.

Various types of closures are in use which are employed to replace theordinary seal or closure of the bottle and. which permit pouring of thecontents as desired While at the same time providing a partial closureto prevent the escape of volatile material in the bottle. The chiefdiniculty with such closures is that they do not provide satisfactoryair vents and the bottle has to be shaken repeatedly during the pouringoperation, often causing a spilling of the liquid. Further, thetemporary seals are not efiicient in preventing the escape of volatilematerial, and their structure makes them serve as dust collectors andunsanitary structures,

An object of the present invention is to provide a closure which will atall times, when the bottle is in upright condition, provide a completeseal against the escape of volatile material, while at the same time,when the bottle is tilted to pouring position, will permit the steadyand full flow of liquid without requiring the shaking of the bottle. Afurther object is to provide a closure having a full vent for the inflowof air when the bottle is turned to pouring position, and means forautomatically sealing the drain passage against the escape Of volatilematerial when the bottle is returned to upright position. Yet anotherobject is to provide a closure in which a ball valve is employed,together with means for maintaining the ball effectively out ofengagement with the valve seat during the pouring position and whilemoving the bottle at angles approximating a pouring position where theball otherwise would flow back and interrupt the flow. Yet anotherobject is to provide a structure in which a recess in the casing isprovided for the ball valve while at the same time providing a dusteliminator dome and deflect-or means for protecting the dome fromliquid. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as thespecification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment by theaccompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is aside view in elevation of aclosure 2 embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a vertical sectional view ofthe structure shown in Fig, 1 and shown applied to the neck of a bottle,the bottle being in upright position; and Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig.2 but showing the bottle tilted to pouring position.

In the illustration given, I0 designates a, casing member formed ofaluminum or any other suitable material and provided with a drainpassage l l extending therethrough. The lower portion of the casin Illprovides a tubular member l2 receiving a sealing sleeve l3 of cork orany other suitable material, the sleeve being efiective'in providing anairtight seal with the bottle neck M. The upper part of the casing I0provides a valve seat l5 adapted to receive a ball 16 of stainless steelor other suitable metal to provide an airtight seal therewith. A hollowcrown member I! provides with the upper enlargement of easing 10 a valvechamber I8 in which the ball l6 may move to sealing and unsealingposition, The crown II has a flange which makes a sliding flt with amatin flange of casing 10. Any suitable means for securing the twomembers together may be employed. I have found that a press fit is verysatisfactory, employing suitable pressure, say, for example, 600 pounds.It will be understood that any suitable means for securing the memberstogether may be employed. The crown I1 is preferably recessed interlorlyat l9 to provide a place for the ball IE to rest while at the same timefurnishing on the exterior of the structure a dome 2B which has pitchedsides preventing the collection of dust thereon. In order to prevent theflow of liquid onto the dome and thus provide a means for contaminatingit, I provide deflector 2| at the lower part of the dome which tends todivert liquid outwardly.

In order to provide at all times a full flow from the bottle with asuflicient vent for the inflow of air, while at the same time enablingthe bottle to be turned at any position during the pouring operation, Iprovide the member II with pouring and vent apertures 22 which extendall the way around the structure, Thus, a vent 22 on the lower side ofthe structure, when tilted to pouring position, serves as a conduit forthe outflow of liquid, while the vent diametrically opposed thereto iscompletely open to the atmosphere, and it together withthe adjacentopenings permit the 3 full inflow of air into the bottle along the upperside of the drain passage I I.

In addition to the recess IQ of the member I1, I prefer to form a groove23 which forms a shoulder 24 between it and the valve seat l5 and thus,when the ball i6 is moved to the pouring position illustrated in Fig. 3,the ball is locked against fluctuating movements and is held firmlyuntil there is a positive return of the bottle to upright position. I

In the operation of the device, the closure is inserted Within a bottleneck, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, after the removal of the originalcap of the bottle. As long as the'bottle remains in upright position,the ball 16 provides a firm seal for the valve seat l5 and volatilematerial does not escape from the bottle. The seal is particularlyeffective when used with bottles containing liquor or alcohol and servesto prevent the escape of the alcohol.

When the bottle is tilted to pouring position, as illustrated in Fig. 3,the ball [6 movesinto'the recess :9 and rests within the groove 23 whichsecurely holds it against any irregular movements during the pouringoperation. Normally, in the pouring of liquidswhere a ball-is-employed,the ball tends-to rockback-and-forth and to interrupt the flow ofliquid. In the'present structure, the groove 23 providesapositive.control against such irregular 'movement and maintains the ball infixed position until there'is a. complete tilting of the bottle welltoward upright position. In the pouring operatiomthe defiector flange itbreaks thefiow away fromthe dome 2i] and keeps the dome dryand-thereforeeffective as an eliminator of dust 'or-othermaterial whichwould otherwise settlethereon.

In the pouring operation; it is-not necessary to turn the bottle so asto bring aparticular-pouring spout into position above the glassbecausethe openings 22 are spaced all theway "around the crown member I! andpermit pouring-from any angle. At the same time, the openings '2 Z areeffective to serve either as 'ventsor' as 'pouring conduits, dependingupon the position of the crown H; the lowermost openings 22 serveaspouring passages, while the uppermost openings 22 serve as vents andallowat all times a full flow of air into the bottle. It is unnecessarytherefore to shake the bottle in anypouring operation because the flowis fullandeven and there is no diiilculty about theinfiow of air.

When the bottle is again raised to upright position, the ball l6 leavesthe groove -2-3"and resumes its position inseat idwhereescapeof fumes orvolatile matter is thereafter prevented. In the structure shown, theopenings 22*are each big enough to embrace a substantialportion of theball l6 and to hold it firmly imposition during the tilting operation.Thus, the openings- 22 serve three functions: They provide an-outletaperture for-the liquid, they provide inlet passages for the air, andthey provide means =for holding the ball against rocking movement'andagainst movement back'into the seat of the valve during angular tiltingmovements. If-desired, the annular groove 23 may be entirelydispensedwith, and the openings 22 relied upon to hold the ball [6 againstrolling movement'about the valve chamber during the pouring operation ortilting operations. With the structure shown, the annular groove 23maintains the ball in the most advanced position during thepouring-operation, while the openings 22-serve effectivelyto retain theball when it is in asli'ghtly'tilted'pos'ition approaching the pouringposition or approaching the upright position of the bottle.

Some of the subject matter which is disclosed in this application isclaimed in applicants copending application, Serial No. 638,031, filedDecember 29, 1945.

While in the foregoing specification I have set forth certain details ofstructure as illustrative of one embodiment of the invention, it will beunderstood that such details may be varied widely by those skilled inthe art without departing from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1. A bottle closure comprising a casing having a longitudinal drainpassage therethrough, said casing having an end portion adapted to bereceived within the neck of a bottle and the other end portion providinga valve seat in said passage' and a chamber enclosing said seat, and a.ballin said seat heavier than the liquid in the bottle and adapted toseal the passage when the ":bottle is in an upright position, saidcasing being provided above said valve seat with a continuous series ofclosely-spaced openings extending around the casing, said chamberextending beyond said openings-and providing a recess adapt- 'ed toreceive said ball when the bottle is tipped "topouring position withoutclosing any of said openings, said openings being located I between saidrecess and said seat and being largeenough to arrest return movement ofsaid ball-toward said seat when said bottle isHtiltedslightlypastdrain-back position by: releasing said ball' for return to its seatwhena'sharp'er'angle iof tilt in the; drain-back position has been reached.

I 2. A bottle closure comprising a casinghaving a lon'g-itudinal drainpassage therethrough," said casinghaving an end portion adaptedtobe'received-Within the neck of a bottle and the other sage, said casingalso providing a valve chamber end portion providing a valve seat-insaid'pasenclosing said seat, anda ball insaidseat heavier than theliquid in the bottle and adapted to'seal said passage when the bottle isin an upright position, said casing being provided with a continuousseries of closely spaced openings about said chamber and also witha'groove about :said

- openingssaid openings being located between said groove andsaid'seatand providing a means for arresting the return of said balltosaid seat even afterthe bottle has "been'tilted to drain--backposition and until a predetermined angle of :an end portion adaptedto be :sealed within-a bottlelneck, a longitudinal body portion having adrain 1 passage therethrough terminating in "a valve 'seatand anenclosure'providing'a chamber about'sa'id seat, and :a' balliinfsaidseat heavier .thanithe 1iquid:in the bottle and adapted .to' seal saidpassage when the bottle is in upright :p'osittion,said.casing beingprovided with a continuous series of icloselytspaced :openingsencircling said chamber andiproviding' outlets therefrom, each of saidopenings'being'large enough'to receive-said ball and .to.hold thesamefirmly when'the'b'ottle is being tipped fromipouring todrain-backposition and to prevent the return ofathe ball' to itsseatuntil the bottle is tilted sharply toward upright position, saidchamber being extended beyond said opening to provide a recess toreceivesaid :ball and to.- free said openings for pouring REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Newton Apr. 8, 1862 Number Number NumberName Date Bergman Aug. 7, 1894 Librowicz June 11, 1895 Strauss Jan. 20,1903 Wagner Jan. 5, 1904 Bailey Oct. 11, 1904 Perotti Apr. 25, 1905Colvin Aug. 2, 1910 Stephany Oct. 24, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS Country DateGreat Britain May 28, 1907

